Side delivery rake



y 6, 1953 c. B. RlCHE Y 2,639,574

SIDE DELIYERY RAKE Filed Nov. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CzflRE/VCZ' a wa/[V y 26,-1953 c. B. RICHEY 2,639,574

SIDE DELIVERY RAKE Filed Nov. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENTOR.`

amy/m a. kma [r May 26, 1953 c. B. RlCHE Y SIDE DELIVERY RAKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 12, 1949 May 26, 1953 c. B. RICHEY 5 5 SIDE DELIVERY RAKE Filed Nov. 12,1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 26, 1953 &639574 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDE DELIVERY RAKE Clarence B. Richey,`Rya1 Oak, Mich., assignor to Dear-'born Motors Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Applicatio'n November 12, 1949, Serial No. 126300 4 Claims.

This invention 'elates to a side delivery rake,

and. particularly to a side dehvery rake for use withtractors having power lifted, trailing hitch links.

Sidedelivery rakes have been in use-for some time andare well-liked because of their ability to deliverthe mowed hay into a single windrow which notonly facilitates-the curing of the hay but also permits the convenient pickup of cured hay by buckrake, hay balers or other implements. :Many of such'side delivery rakes, how ever, -are of relatively complicated Construction andhad-limited `service life. Nearly ali of the known side delivery rakes utilize a raking drum or cylinder comprising spaced rotatable dises between which are attached rake tooth bars ward-defiection oftheraking bar due to'the centrifugal forces set up by the rapidly rotating raking 'cylinder and the deflection 'reaches a maximum in the` lowermost position of each rake bar where gravity is also acting to defiect the rake bar outwardly. A further and more serious disadvantage causedby defiection of the tooth bar is the unevenness with which the raking teeth travrse the ground due to the teeth at the point of. greatestdeflection digging into the ground.

"Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved side delivery rake of'a simple, rugged yet economically manufacturable design.,

A particular object of this invention is to provide an improved frame construction for a side delivery rake adapted for use with a tractor having power lfted hitch links.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved design of a rake tooth bar for a rotating raking cylinder of a side delivery rake whicheliminates the possibility of interi'erence between the hay stripper and the rakin'g teeth normally caused bythe combination of centrifugal and gravitational forces produced in 'the 'apidly rotating raking cylin'der during operation.

further object of this inventionis to provide animprovedrakegtooth bar for' a rotating'raking cylinder of a side delivery rake which 'insures that the raking teeth of each bar will be evenly aligned at the bottom' of the rotating cylinder to elimin'ate uneven raking'caused by defiectiorrtfi` such har by the combination of'centrifugal and` gravitationalforces produced in the rapidly rotating cylnder.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved hay-stripper for 'a' side delivery rake having a rotating raking cylinder.

The specificnature of this invention, 4 'as well as other objects' and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilied intheart from `:the following detailed description taken in' conjunction w ith the attached drawings on which, by Way* of'preferred example only, is illustrated c'ne enbodiment oi* this invention:

-On the'drawings:

u Figureis a plan View of the side delivery rake constructed in accordance with this invention.

.Figure 2 is a broken cross sectional View taken 'along theplane 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional viewtaken along the plane 3-`3 of 'Figure 1.

Figura-4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken' along the plane' 4-1; of Figure' 2.

Figure 5 is` an enlarged detail View, partlydn section; showing themanner of securing the 'rake tooth to the rake bar.

Figureis 'an enlarged detail View, partly'in section, showing the manner of mounting the wheels to theirame of' the side delivery rake.

-Figure '7 is a schenatic View showing the camber of the rake to'oth bars of the raking c'ylnder,

in exaggerated detail, at both the top of the rotating cylinder and at the bottom of the cylin'der.

r `Asshown on the drawings:

Briefly, this invention comprises a tractor drawn frarne in which there is rotatably mounted a se -called raking cylinder iormed' by a plurality of-rake tooth bars which rotate about a horizontalaxis inclined relative' to the path of travel of 'the tractor. The rear end of the frame is supported on caster type wheels while the front end of the `frame is adapted for mounting on the trailing 'bitch links of a tractor of well-known make. The power-take-off shaft of'the tractor is utilized for drivin'g the raking' cylinder through the `medium of 'av-belt and suitable p'lleys.

In Figure 1 there is shown in assembled'r`e1atioma-'side delivery rake constructed in accordance with this invention. A frame se is utilized to support the elements of the side delivery rake. Frame Hi'comprises a horizontally disposed bottom.member mcconstructed preferably of angle iron and having an oval configuration with rounded ends I l and I2 respectively. A vertically disposed tubular frame element |3 of generally U-shaped configuration is diagonally secured across the oval shaped bottom portion of frame n, as best shown in Figure 1. A pair of vertically disposed frame carrying members i l and I 5 are secured, preferably by welding, in laterally spaced relationship to the bottom portion lila of frame IU as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The carrying members !4 and [5 are of generally inverted U-shape, passing over the top of tubular portion I3 of frame ll] and extending for wardly and downwardly to where connection is made to the vertically swingable draft links is and l1 of the tractor (not shown), as will be later described. Each of the carrying members |4 and !5 are Secured to tubular portion !3 of frame n by a depending plate [8 bolted or otherwise secured to each carrying member |4 and !5 and welded to the tubular portion !3 of rame as shown at IS. A third rame carrying member 28 has its ends respectively secured by bolts to bottom frame portion ma and the tubular portion !3 of frame Il! near the left end of such frame as viewed in Figure 1, a bracket zoa being Secured by welding to such tubular portion for such purpose.

A web-like arm 2| is Secured to each of the respective carrying members l4, I and by bolts 22. Each arm 2l projects rearwardly of frame IO and a vertically disposed tubular housing 23 is welded to the rear end of each of such arms. Housing 23 is provided to journal a shaft 24 of a wheel supporting fork 25. suitable sleeve bearings 26 and 21 (Figure 6) are provided in opposite ends of the housing 23 to support shaft 24 in bearing relationship. A wheel 28 provided with a rubber tire 29 thereon is rotatably supported in fork by a transverse axle 30 and similar wheels are similarly mounted on each of the other two frame carrying members to support the rear edge of frame n.

Frame carrying members l 4 and |5 converge at their forward ends and such ends are suitably apertured to respectively receive horizontal pins 33. A pair of Vertical opposed strap members 32 spaced slightly apart at the top diverge downwardly to define an A-shaped strut 34. The

'strap members mounted on 32 are pins 33, suitable apertures being provided at the lower ends of the strap members 32 for such purpose. The draft links IS and l1 of the tractor are also mounted on pins 33. The top tractor link is piv otally secured between the spaced upper ends of the straps 32 by a transverse pin 36. A pair of horizontally disposed braces 31 and 38 are connected at their forward ends to strut 34 just below the connecting pin 35 and the other ends of braces 31 and 38 are connected respectively to carrying members l4 and I 5 respectively by bolts 39. Thus the forward end of the rake is supported by the draft links !6 and l1 of the tractor and since the vertical position of the draft links IS and l1 may be hydraulically controlled in conventional fashion, the front end of the rake may be raised or lowered with respect to the ground for a purpose which will later appear.

It should be pointed out here that the axis of rame o is diagonally disposed with respect to the line of draft of the tractor when the carrying frame members !4 and 15 are mounted on drawbar 32.

A raking cylinder 40 is rotatably mounted in frame w. such raking cylinder comprises a pair' of end wheels or discs 4| and 42 to which are secured a plurality of rake tooth bars 43 as will be presently described. Disc 4! is rotatably mounted on the upright leg |3a of tubular frame portion !3 by a stub axle 44. Stub axle 44 is horizontally supported within a suitable hole in upright portion I 3a and is Welded to the upright portion of frame member l3. Disc 4l is provided with a hub 45 having an axial bore 46 therethrough. The left end of bore 46, as shown in Figure 4, is counterbored to receive a tapered roller bearing 41 which surrounds axle 44 and abuts a stationary shoulder or collar 48 on axle 44. Another bearing 49 similar to bearing 41 is placed in the other end of bore 46 and surrounds the forward end of axle 44. A Washer 50 and nut 5l are placed over the threaded forward end 52 of axle 44 to secure disc 4l to such axle. A suitable cap 53 is forced into the right hand end of bore 46 to exclude extraneous matter from the bearing.

A plurality of radially disposed arms '54 are angularly spaced about the periphery of disc 4l and on the end of each arm 54 there is provided a horizontally disposed housing 55, such housing being provided with a bore 56, the axis of which is disposed parallel to the axis of axle 44. It should be noted that axle 44 is mounted on frame member l3a .in such a way that disc 4I will be displaced at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of frame o. A peripheral V-shaped groove 51 is provided in disc 4l for a purpose to be later described. A second disc 42, similar to disc 4l, is mounted in a similar manner to that of disc 4l on the upright portion I3b of frame member |3 and such disc is disposed With its face parallel to the face of disc 4I.

A plurality of tubular rake bars 43 are pivotally Secured between discs 4| and 42 in a cylindrical array. The respective ends of each rake bar 43 are cut down and flattened as shown at 58 in Figures 1 and 4 and a transverse hole is provided in such respective end portions through which is inserted a bolt 59. such bolt extends through bore 56 of housing 55 and is supported therein in bearing relationship. A nut so secures such bolt within housing 55.

Each rake bar is provided with a plurality of depending rake teeth 60 Secured in evenly spaced relationship upon the bar. such teeth comprise a coil spring portion 6l, one end of which projects downwardly to form a vertically disposed tine 62. The other end of the coil spring %I terminates in an arm-like portion 63 on the end of which there is provided an eye 64. Each tooth 60 is Secured to the underside of rake bar 43 by a substantially vertical bolt 65 which passes through eye 64 and thence through suitable holes in bar 43 and a nut 56 secures such bolt to bar 43.

As tooth bars 43 are pivotally mounted on discs 4! and 42 the rake teeth 60 rotate about the cylinder with tines 62 vertically disposed atall times.

In accordance with this invention, each rake bar 43 is provided with a camber, shown in exaggerated detail in Figure 7 to better illustrate such feature. The camber is such that each rake tooth bar 43 is bowed upwarldy; that is, When each rake tooth bar is at the top position of the raking cylinder the center of each of such bars is displaced above the ends of the bar. Hence when rotated slowly, the central portions of each rake bar 43 would remain in such bowed position as it passes through the lower portions of its path. As the raking cylinder 40 rotates the-rake tooth bars are carried around the cylinder as well as being'substantially laterally advanced and then retracted relative to the ground. The lateral movement is due to the angular dispositionof the discs "41. When rota'ted rapidly at working speeds the centrifugal force on the rake bar will, of course, act to deflect the central 'portions of thebar radially outwardly' andsuch tendency will be directly in opposition to 'the aiorementioned camberthrougho'ut the lowermos t portions of the rotary path of the rake bar. Therefore the rake bars are bowed or cambered as above described in sufiicient degree to compensate for'the forces acting on the bar in operation so that each oi such bars-will be substantially straight throughout the bottomportions of its rotation.

A transverse support member'a'l is welded or otherwise secured between a pair of opposedde- -pending arms 58 which are'in'turn welded to carrying members M and [5 near the forward ends thereof as shown in Figure 1. A shaft housing 'H is adjustably secured to the undersde of support member Ei'l by a pair of bolts 69 which are engageable with elongated Slots n. Su-ch housing rctatably supports a shaft 12 which projects forwardly from such housing. Shaft 12 is connected by a universal joint 15 to an extension shaft 'M which, in turn is connected in conventional fashion to the power-take-off shaft of the tractor (not shown). A V-pulley 73 is mounted on the rear end of shaft 12 and a v-belt 16 is trained over pulley 73 and the V-shaped groove 5? of disc 41. Thus power from the tractor is utilized to rotate the raking cylinder 43. sioning of belt 15 is simply effected by lateral shifting of shaft housing ll, slots permitting such adjusment. A guard 82 comprising a plate provided with a forwardly and upwa'rdly sloping end 820, is welded to a depending bracket 83 welded to housing 'H connection.

A plurality of hay strippers 'H are mounted on frame m. A horizontal tubular support arm "18 is utilized for such purpose and such arm is secured in depending relationship to carrying supports i and [5 by a pair of plate members 79. such plate members are secured respectively to carrying members M and !5 in depending relation by bolts me. The lower ends of such plates are shaped to partially surround tubular arm 78 and such arm is welded to each of the plates 79 and se. A vertically disposed plate SI is welded to the forward edge of tubular arm 18 as shown in Figures l and 3. The hay strippers 'H are secured in spaced and depending relationship to plate 8| by bolts 82 and each hay stripper comprises a tubular member provided with a closed curved end portion 'Ha which projects between tines 62 of teeth GU and extend underneath raking cylinder dil, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, as closely as possible to the path of th rotating rake bars 43.

In the operation or" the side delivery rake of this invention, the carrying members M and !5 are mounted on the draft links i& and Il of the tractor and connection of the tractor top link 35 is made to the top of A-frame member 34. Thus, the front end or the rahe is supported on the tractor and the rear end of the side delivery rake is supported by the wheels 28. When the powertake-off shaft of the tractor is driven, disc 4! is rotated by means of belt 'l' which then effects rotation of the entire raking cylinder t. Due to the angular disposition of the rahe bars relative to the direction of 'travel oi' the tractor, the rake for protection of 'the drive Ten- ? !tand H. rapidly the center of rahe bars 43, Figure '7, tends `teeth &B have an effective movement relative to to be displaced radiall'y outwardly hence downwardly as 'each'rake bar approaches the bottom portions of its rotary path due to the co'mbina- 'tion of centrifugal and gravity forces actingon the unsupported central portions of the rake bars.

The camber mparted to the rake bars is selected to substantiailyneutralize such deflecton, s'o' that t ie rake bars remain substantialiy straight at the bottom po'rtions of their rotation and there will be nointerference with the hay strippers or with the ground.

From the `foregoing description, 'it will be apparent that there is here provided-a side delive'ry rake of relatively simple rugged Construction employing a comparativeiy small number of parts thereby insuring that such rai-:e may be economically iabricated and will be relatively free from mechanical faiiures. Th cambered rake bars provided by this invention substantially eliminate any possibility of interference between the rake bars and the hay strippers and thereby overcome a common weakness of prior side delivery rakes.

It will, of course, be understood that many details of Construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1, In a side delivery rake, a raking cylinder, means mounting said cylinder on the rake for rotation about a horizontal aXis angularly disposed relative to the direction of travel of the rake, said raking cylinder comprising spaced rotatable head portions and a plurality of rake bars secured in a cylindrically spaced array between said head portions, each of said rake bars being cambered so that when stationary and. in its lowermost position, the central portions of each rake bar lie closer to the axis of rotation of th raking cylinder than the end portions of such rake bar, the amount of said camber being proportioned relative to the normal speed of rotation of said rake bar so that said rake bar assumes a substantially straight configuration while passing through the lower portions of its path of rotation by the action of centrifugal force when rotated at said normal speed.

2. In a side delivery rake having a frame, a rake drum rotatably mounted in the frame, said rake drum being disposed diagonaily to the line of draft, a plurality of rahe bars carried by said drum, each of said rake bars having spaced rake teeth thereon, and spaced hay strippers on said frame, said strippers comprising downwardly curved elongated members having their free ends extending underneath said rake drum and between said spaced rake teeth, each of said rake bars bein cambered so that when stationary and in its lowermost position the central portions of each rake bar lie closer to the axis of rotation of the raking cylinder than the end portions of such rake bar, the amount of said camber being proportioned relative to the normal speed or rotation of said rake bar so that said rake bar assumes a substantially straight configuration while passing through the lower portionsof its path of rotation by the action of centrifugal force when rotated at said normal speed.

3. In a side delivery rake having a frame, a rake drum rotatably mounted in the frame on a horizontal axis disposed diagonally to the line of draft, a plurality of rake bars carried by said drum, each of said rake bars having spaced rake teeth thereon and a plurality of spaced tubular stripper elements mounted on said frame, said stripper elements depending from said frame and being curved so as to project the free ends thereof between said spaced teeth and to underlie said rake drum, each of said rake bars being cambered so that when stationary and in its lower-most position the central portions of each rake bar lie closer to the axis of rotation of the raking cylinder than the end portions of such rake bar, the amount of said camber being proportioned relative to the normal speed of rotation of said rake bar so that said rake bar assumes a substantially .straight conflguration while passing through the lower portions of its path of rotation by the action of centrifuga-l force when rotated at said normal speed.

4. In a side delivery rake having a raking reel comprising a cylindrical cage-like array of elongated rake bars rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, the improvement which comprises each ofsaid rake bars having a vertical camber in the form of a generally upwardly convex arouate lengthwise configuration.

. CLARENCE B. RICHEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 818,899 4 Martin Apr. 24, 1906 935, 156 Blackstone et al. Sept 28, 1909 1,313,880 Clausen Aug. 26, 1919 2,296 .O65 Slamp Sept. 15, 1942 

